Process of tanning leather.



To all whom it may concern:

UNITED EEENT OFFICE.

JABES A. HAMRICK, OF HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS.

PROCESS OF TANNING LEATHER.

No Drawing.

Be it known that I, Janus A. HAMnioK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hot Springs, in the county of Garland and State of Arkansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes ofTanning Leathers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to so tan leather that it shall beextremely durable and water-proof, and the invention consists in firstsubjecting the leather while it is being submitted to the action of thetanning agent to the action of fluid extract of alder bark, thus openingthe pores of leather and permitting the tanning agent to strike in,

and then subjecting the leather to the action of a fluid extract ofpersimmon and black haw, thus closing up the pores and making theleather water-proof and extremely durable.

In carrying out my process, the dry hides are subjected to the usualdepilating process, and to this end are soaked in water until they aresufficiently softened. The flesh and loose hairs are then removed. Thehides are then placed, as usual, in a vat and subjected to the action oflime water until the hair slips easily. During this time, the hides areaired three or four times a day, and the hair removed with a dull workeror draw knife. When the hair is all removed, the hides are placed inclear running water or in a tub in which the water is changed three orfour times a day. Twenty-four to forty-eight hours are usually necessaryto remove the lime from the hide.

My invention particularly relates to that step in the process oftanning, wherein the hide is subjected to a tanning agent, as forinstance, gambier. The gambier is dissolved it hot water and strainedinto a tub or vat, and sufficient water added to cover the hides to betreated. When the ooze thus formed becomes cool, the hides are placed inthe vat, wherein they remain until thoroughly colored, the hides beingaired continuously during this operation. When thoroughly colored, fluidextract of alder is added to the ooze, and the hides are allowed toremain in the ooze from two to ten days, according to size. The hidesare then taken out, the liquid in the vat heated and fluid extract ofpersimmon and fluid extract of black haw are added. The hides are thenagain placed in the vat and left therein from one to five Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed November 24, 1909.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

Serial No. 529,761.

days, according to the size of the hides. When the hides are tanned,they are taken out, all pelt is removed, and the hides set out for theremoval of wrinkles and for stretching. Both sides of the hide are thenoiled with fish oil rubbed in thoroughly. The hides are then rolled upand laid away until half dry. They are then worked until dry and thenfinished.

In order to prepare the fluid extract of alder, above referred to, Itake the alder roots, wash them, boil them down and strain. The liquidstrained ofi? therefrom is again boiled until the ooze so formed becomesthick. It is then in condition for use, and to each pint of ooze I add agallon of wood alcohol and thoroughly mix. The fluid extract ofpersimmon and blackhaw are both prepared in precisely the same mannerabove described for the alder extract.

For tanning calf, goat and sheep skin, and all hides of about the samesize, I use to every two or three pounds of gambier, onequarter ounce offluid extract of alder, one-quarter ounce of fluid extract of ersimmon,and one-quarter ounce of uid extract of black haw, using three to fourgallons of water for the ooze. The hides remain in the ooze for fromthree to five days. For oneand two-year old hides, I use to every fiveor six pounds of gambier, one-half ounce of fluid extract of alder,onehalf ounce of fluid extract of persimmon, and two ounces of fluidextract of black haw, with six gallons of water for the ooze, the hidesto remain in the ooze for from five to eight days. For cow, ox or bullhides, to every seven to nine pounds of gambier, I use one ounce offluid extract of alder, one ounce of fluid extract of persimmon, and oneounce of fluid extract of black haw, with seven gallons of water for theooze, the hides to remain in the ooze for from ten to fifteen days,according to their thickness.

To tan sole leather, the leather is to remain in the ooze. described inthe last paragraph, from twelve to fifteen days, leaving on all pelt,however, setting out, and oiling on the grain side with fish oil. Thehide is dried when it is finished.

The amounts given above are sufficient for one hide of calf, goat andsheep skin, and for one cow, ox or bull hide, and for one hide to beturned into sole-leather. For each extra hide one-half the amounts ofthe ingredients above given is added to the ooze. The ooze will workuntil its strength is exhausted. I find in practice that it cannot bemade so strong as to injure the fiber of the leather.

I find in practice that my invention results in leather of high degreeof durability and exceedingly water-proof, yet with all the flexibilitywhich is necessary to the best grades of leather.

Having thus described the invention,-What I claim is 1. The process oftreating leather, which consists in subjecting the leather to a tanningsolution, until the leather is thoroughly colored, then adding to thesolution fluid extract of alder, then heating said solution and addingthereto fluid extract of persimmon.

2. The process of treating leather which consists in subjecting theleather to a tanning solution, then subjecting the leather to an actionof fluid extract of alder, and then subjecting the leather to the actionof fluid extract of persimmon and fluid extract of blackhaw.

3. The process of treating leather which consists in subjecting theleather to a liquid tanning agent, then adding to the tanning agent asolution of fluid extract of alder, subjecting the leather to the actionof these combined agents and then adding thereto fluid extract ofpersimmon and fluid extract of blackhaw.

4. The process of treating leather, consisting in subjecting the leatherto a solution of gambier until the leather is thoroughly colored, thenadding to the solution fluid extract of alder, then heating saidsolution and adding thereto fluid extract of persimmon and fluid extractof black haw, and then removing the leather when tanned.

5. The process of treating leather, consisting in subjecting the leatherto a liquid tract of persimmon and fluid extract of black haw, replacingsaid leather and letting the leather remain in said solution from one tofive days, and then removing the leather.

6. The process of treating leather, consisting in subjecting the leatherto an ooze formed of gambier dissolved in hot water, until the leatheris thoroughly colored, then adding thereto fluid extract of alder,letting the leather remain in said solution from two to ten days, thenremoving the leather, heating the solution, and adding thereto fluidextract of persimmon and fluid extract of black haw, replacing theleather in the solu tion until tanned, removing the leather and settingout the leather, and oiling.

7. The process of treating leather, consisting in soaping the dry hidesuntil soft, removing the hides to a vat having therein suflicient limewater to cover the hides, re moving the hides from the vat, and dehairing the same, thoroughly washing the hides to remove the lime therefrom,placing the hides in an ooze composed of gambier and water, then addingfluid extract of alder to said ooze, then heating the ooze, and addingthereto fluid extract of persimmon and fluid extract of black haw, andletting the hides remain in said ooze until thoroughly tanned.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature Copies of this patent may beobtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofIE'atents,

Washington, D. G.

